Photographic-printing apparatus.



H. M. WEBSTERI PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION EILED MAY 19, 1916. 1,262,723. Patented Apr. 16, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

fizz/622 for pig??? H. M. WEBSTER.

PHOTOGRAPHIC PRlNTlNG APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 19' 19I6.

Patented Apr. 16, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2. 75%

H. M- WEBSTER.

PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTING APPARATUS. APPUCATION FILED MAY 19, 1916.

1,262,723. Patented Apr. 16, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 5/ /i m 59 172944 55 J 9/9 9 A? HOWARD M. WEBSTER, orCHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

PHOTOGRAPHIC-PRINTING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Iatent. Patented Apr. 16, 1918.

Application filed May 19, 1916. Serial No. 98,490.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HOWARD M. WEBSTER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Photogra hic-PrintingApparatus, of which the f0 lowing is a specification. I

This invention relates to an apparatps for preparing photographic printsby artificial light and has for its principal object the provision of anapparatus of simple and relatively inexpensive construction, capable ofrapid operation to produce photographic prints.

A further object of my invention is the provision in an apparatus of theabove-described character of means for automatically shutting off thelight after a predetermined interval.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent as it isbetter understood by reference to the following specification when readin connection with the accompanying drawing, illustrating the preferredembodiment thereof, in which- Figure 1 is a plan view of an apparatusaccording to my invention;

Fi 2 is a Vertical section on the line 22 of FIg. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the structure illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a portion of the structure illustrating.the printing position of the parts;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail in elevation of a portion of thetime-controlling mechanism;

Fig. 6 is a vertical section through a por tion of the printingmechanism;

F i 7 is a vertical section on the line 7-7 of Flg. 5; and

Fig. 8 is a vertical section on the line 88 riage 7 is slidably mountedon the rods to move longitudinally of the table 2. A shaft 8,'extend1ngtransversely of the table 2, is slidably mounted in slots 9 in theopposite sides of the carriage 7 and is resiliently drawn toward thetable 2 by the springs 10. A roller 11 is mounted on the shaft 8 andconnected thereto by a spiral spring 12 (Fig.

6) disposed within the roller 11. One edgev of a blanket 13 is securedto the roller 11, the opposite end of the blanket being secured in anysuitable manner to the surface of the table 2. A clamping member 14 issupported by links 16 which connect a shaft 17 mounted in brackets 18 onthe clamping member 14 with a transverse member 15 of the carriage 7. Aspring 19, connected to the shaft 17 and to a transverse member 20 ofthe carriage 7, normally raises the clamping member 14 fromengagementwith the surface of the table 2. Members 21 are supported oneither side of the clamping member 14 and provided with laterallyextending lugs 22. Upstanding members 23 secured t0 the table 2 areadapted to be engaged in the lugs 22 when the carriage 7 is moved to theright, viewing Fig. 3, to cause the clamping, member '14 to approach thesurface of the table 2.

In the operation of the mechanism the negative and the photographicpaper are arranged over a glass inset 24 in the top of the table 2 andthe "carriage 7 is moved to the right, viewing Fig. 1,. whereupon theblanket 13 is unrolled from the roller 11 above the negative andphotographic paper and when the carriage 7 reaches the end of itsmovement, as indicated in Fig. 4, the clamping member 14 is operated, aspreviously stated, to clamp the work in position. A member 25 isarranged to slide transversely of the table 2 and is provided at itsextremities with dogs 26 disposed in the path of the members 27depending from the carriage 7. When the carriage reaches the positionindicated in Fig. 4 the members 27 engage the dogs 26 to lock thecarriage 7 in printing position. about the rods 5, provide resilientbufiers to prevent injury of the carriage 7 by careless treatment.

To-control the electric circuit leading to the lamps 3 I provide amember 29 adjustably mounted by means of screws 30 on the carriage 7 andhaving a laterally extending Springs 28, disposed portion 31 adapted toengage a bell-crank V a pin 35 on the bell-crank lever 32. The

other arm of the bell-crank lever 34 is connected to a contact member 36slidablysupported on a suitable insulating base 37 and provided withcontacts 38 adapted to cooperate with contact members 39 resilientlymounted on the base 37. The contacts 38 and contact members 39 areconnected b suitable conductors to a fuse box 40.

.The shaft 44 of the manually operable switch 41 controls the circuit inwhich the lamp 4 is arran ed. A constant speed motor 42 is electrica 1yconnected by suitable conductors to a circuit controlled by a manuallyoperable switch 43. motor 42 is provided with'a worm 45 engaging asuitable worm gear 46 arranged within a housing 47 and secured to ashaft 48 mounted in suitable bearing in the housin 47. The'shaft 48 isrovided at its end with a friction disk 49. loosely mounted on the stubshaft 50, mounted in a bracket 51 secured to the side of the casing-2,is a spool 52 provided with friction springs 53 adapted to engage the afriction disk 49. The bracket 51 is provided with a cam face 54 and aslotted member 55 provided with a corresponding cam face is mounted onthe stub shaft and connected Joy a link 56 to one end of the bell-cranklever 32.

Obviously when the bell-crank lever 32 is actuated in the mannerpreviously described the member will force the spool 52 to the left,viewing Fig. 5, to engage the friction disk 49 which is rotated at aconstant speed by the motor 42. Connected to the s ool 52 are a pair offlexible members 57 an 58 extending upwardly and over pulleys 59 and 60mounted in the laterall extending br ack ets 61 and .62 secured to t eside of the easing 1. The end of the flexible member 57 is connected toa weight 63 which normally rests on a support 64, the weight 63 beingslidably dis osed upon a vertical rod 65. An ad] ustablb stop member 66is mounted on the rod in the path of the weight 63 which, as will beapparent from the preceding description, is lifted when the spool 52 isrotated. The rod 65 is slidable in the support 64 and is connected atits u per end to a lever 67 pivotally mounted in rackets68 secured tothe side ofthe table 2. An arm 69 of the lever 67 is dis osed through asuitable opening in one o' the dogs 26 so that when the rod 65 is liftedby engagement of the-weight 63 with the adjustable stop 66 the dogs 26are moved to release the members 27 so that the carriage 7 may be re.

turned to its normal position under the ectu-, ation of the springs 28and 12.

The flexible member 58 is connected at its free end to a member 70 whichis slidably mounted on the vertical rod 71 and a sp 72 is dis osed aboutthe rod 71 above the member '70. The purpose of the spring 72 and themember 70 is to resiliently sto the rotation of the spool 52 when theweig t 63 returns to its normal position after the carriage 7 and thebell-crank lever 32 have been released.

The mode of operation of my invention will be readily understood fromthe following brief description thereof. The switches 41 and 43 beingturned to position to operate the motor 42 and allow current to pass tothe lamp 4, the negative and photographic paper are disposed upon theglass inset 24 and the carria 7 .is moved to the left, viewing Fig. 1,so t at the blanket 13 is disposed above the hotographic aper and theclampin mem er 14 is moved to the position indicated in Fig. 6. As .thecarriage 7 reaches the limit of its travel the contacts 38 are movedinto engagement with the cont: ct members 39 to close the circuit to thelamps 3. Simultaneously the springs 53 are moved into ongagement withthe friction disk 49 and the s 001 52 commences to rotate and wind up te flexible member 57 to raise the weight 63. When the weight 63 engagesthe sto 66,

- which is previously adjusted in acco ance with the time required toaccomplish the printing operation, the rod 65 is moved vertically tooperate the lever 67 and free the members 27 on the carriage 7 from thedo 26, whereupon the carriage 7 returns to its normal position and the srings 53 are released from the friction disks 49, the spool 52 rotatingin the reverse direction as the weight 63 descends. The printing paperis then removed and a fresh sheet substituted after which the o erationis repeated.

' It will be readily appreciated from the foregoing that I haveperfected a photographic printing machine which is simple inconstruction, automatic in action and is adapted to produce photograwith extreme rapidity,. the on necessary on the part of the operatorbeing to replace the sheets of photographic printing paper and move thecarriage 7 to printmg position.

am aware that various changes may be made in the form, construction andarrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and S00 e ofthe invention or sacrificing any of 1ts material advantages, the formhereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

. 1. In a photographic printing machine, the combination of a casing,electric lamps within said casing, a tran parent top on hic prints yattention 161 said casing above said lamps, a carriage slidably movableto position above said transparent top, means entirely supported on saidcarriage and bodily movable relatively thereto when the carriage ispositioned above said transparent top to clamp for releasing saidcarriage after a prede r termined interval.

3. In a photographic printing machine, the combination of a casing,electric lamps within said casing, a transparent top on'sa'id casingabove said lamps, a carriage movable to position above said transparenttop, a roller on said carriage, a blanket connected to said roller andto the top of said casing, means for rotating said roller to wind theblanket thereon as said carriage moves in one direction and to allow theblanket to unroll as the carriage is moved in the opposite direction,means entirely supported on said carriage and bodily movable conjointlyf' therewith and relatively thereto to automatically clamp the blanketand work on said transparent top, means actuated by the movement of saidcarriage to close a circuit to said lamps,- and means for automaticallybreaking said circuit after a predetermined interval.

4. In a photographic printing machine, the combination of a casing,electric lamps within said casing, a transparent top on said casingabove said lamps a carriage slidably movable to position above saidtransparent top, a roller on said carriage, a blanket connected to saidroller and to the to of said casing, means for rotating said ro ler towind the blanket thereon as said carriage moves in one direction and toallow the blanket to unroll as the carriage moves in the oppositedirection, and a clamping member bodily movable conjointly with anrelatively to said carriage and adapted to engage said blanket only whenit is unrolle Y r 4 5. In a photographic printing machine,thecombination of a casing, electric lamps within said casing, a,transparent top .on-

said casing above said'lampsl, a carriage movable to position .aboutsaidtransparent top, means entirely'sup riage and bodily mova orted on saidcare relatively thereto when said carriage is positioned above saidtransparent top to clamp the work on said transparent top, a blanket,means on said carriage for automatically positioning said blanketbetween the work and clamping means, means operated by the movement ofsaid carriage for closing a circuit to said lamps, and means forautomatically breaking said circuit after a predetermined intervaL- 6.In a photographic printing machine, the combination of a casing,electric lamps within said casing, a transparent top on said casingabove said lamps, a carriage movable to position above said transparenttop, a roller on said carriage, a blanket connected to said roller andto the top of said casing, means for rotating said roller to wind theblanket thereon as said carriage moves in one direction and to allow theblanket to unroll as the carriage moves in the opposite direction, andmeans entirely supported on said carriage and bodily movable relativelythereto when said carriage is positioned above said'transparent top toautomatically clamp the blanket and work on said transparent top.

7. In a photographic printing machine, the combination of-a casing,electric lamps within said casing, a transparent top on said casingabove said lamps, a carriage movable to position above said transparenttop, latches for maintaining said carriage in the latter position, aroller on said carriage, a blanket connected to said roller and to thetop of said casing, means for rotating said roller to wind the blanketthereon as said carriage moves in one direction and to al low theblanket to unroll as the carriage moves in the opposite direction, meansactu ated by the movement of said carriage for closing a circuit to saidlamps, and means 9. In a photographic printing machine, thecombinationof a casing, electric lamps within said casing, a transparent top'onsaid casing above said lamps, a carriage movable to osition above saidlamps, spring-control ed means on said carriage to cover the work, meansfor retaining said carriage in said position, means automaticallyactuated when said carriage is moved to said osition to close a circuitto said lamps, an means for automatically releasing said carriage andbreaking said circuit after a predeterprinting position, meansautomatically actuated when said carriage is moved to printing positionto close the circuit to said lam and means for automatically releasinsaid carriage and breakin said circuit a r a predetermined intervaincluding a continuously operable motor, mechanism connected to saidretaining means and means for intermittently connecting said motor tosaid mechanism.

HOWARD M. WEBSTER. Witnesses:

WM. 0. BELT, M. A. KIDDIE.

